Espaillat, Salazar Lead Congressional Effort Urging Administration to Finalize US-DR Open Skies Agreement

WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, members of the Congressional Friends of the Dominican Republic Caucus, led by Caucus Chair Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) and Co-Chair María Elvira Salazar (R-FL), sent a letter to the Biden Administration expressing their support for the ongoing negotiations and swift finalization for a modernized United States—Dominican Republic (US-DR) Open Skies Agreement. In their letter, Espaillat and Salazar highlighted potential benefits of a modernized agreement that would increase flights and flight routes between the U.S. and Dominican Republic, lower airfare costs for travelers, and increase tourism and economic growth for both nations. 

“We write on behalf of our numerous Dominican American constituents who have been waiting for years for a modernized US-DR Open Skies Agreement that would benefit both countries and enhance our bilateral relationship,” said Rep. Adriano Espaillat. “Our constituents have regularly expressed their frustration with the current state of limited flight routes and exorbitant prices on flights from the United States to the Dominican Republic, which often prevent them from traveling to visit their family and loved ones. A modernized Open Skies Agreement would provide new flight options, lower fares, and better service among more airlines in the market, supporting the booming tourism economy and the deserving Dominican American families who wish to travel to and from their nation of origin. In turn, our letter respectfully requests that the administration continue to prioritize this important agreement’s finalization on behalf of our constituents and their families.” 

“High airfare prices and limited flights are making it difficult for the thousands of Dominican Americans who call Miami home to visit their families in the Dominican Republic,” said Rep. María Elvira Salazar. “As co-chair of the Friends of the Dominican Republic Caucus, I am proud to join my colleagues in urging the Biden Administration to expand opportunities to increase flights and lower airfare prices by finalizing a modern Open Skies agreement with the Dominican Republic.” 

Representatives Espaillat and Salazar were joined in the letter by fellow Caucus Members Jenniffer González-Colón (R-PR), Grace Meng (D-NY), and Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL).

The full letter can be read here.



 

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Representative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill and the north-west Bronx. First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat is serving his fourth term in Congress. Representative Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government’s vital activities and serves as Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee of the committee during the 118th Congress. He is also a member of the House Budget Committee and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), where he serves in a leadership role as the Deputy Chair as well as Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI). Rep. Espaillat is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) and serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/.

Media inquiries: Candace Person at Candace.Person@mail.house.gov